The New Flock 2021: Back to Basics

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So sorry yet again Cynthia. Fall is the season when I tend to lose birds if I'm going to. Seems the temperature shifts combined with migrating birds brings on health issues here.

 

[speckledhen]

Axel is gone, euthanized. He was just shrinking in on himself, refused to eat or drink. I did dropper water into his beak quite a few times so he didn't become dehydrated, made him scrambled eggs which he ate the first time, then refused after that. He just kept getting weaker and weaker, comb turning black, etc. After he was gone, I examined his body, though I did not do a necropsy. I could find nothing physical that told me what happened with him. No symptoms other than lethargy and loss of appetite.
It will remain a mystery, I guess. I hate mysteries. Usually, if an early death happens, it happens during or as the molting bird begins growing feathers back. The molt seems to bring internal issues to the surface. RIP, handsome little guy.
Now, we have 23 birds, 11 large fowl and 12 bantams. Hard to believe that once upon a time, we had 55 birds, only one of those a bantam at the time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I found one of my older rosters dead the other day. I could tell he wasn't feeling well before, so it wasn't unexpected. Sorry about Axel. He was a gorgeous little roo.

 

[speckledhen]

I found one of my older rosters dead the other day. I could tell he wasn't feeling well before, so it wasn't unexpected. Sorry about Axel. He was a gorgeous little roo.

Oh, no! I'm sorry, Lisa. Bash is the only large fowl rooster I have left and he's already 8 1/2 years old, in the middle of his own molt and showing his age more every week.
I hate that Axel died not long after he found his rightful place in the flock. Seems unfair, but such is chicken life sometimes.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens live each and every day like it's the best ever. Mine live a good life, and I know most won't live real long, but they will live longer than any in the commercial industry. We humans are blessed with a long life in most cases. That blessing means we must go through losing our pets, be it chickens, dogs, cats, or whatever critter we like to share our lives with. Axel had a good life with you Cynthia.

 

[speckledhen]

Axel had a good life with you Cynthia.

I know he did. He had great food, always fresh water, free range time with sunshine, fresh air and sweet little hens. He did cause some issues with his half brother early on, but they had worked it out and it was a very peaceful group. I always try to give them a good life, even when they try my patience, as I know you do, too.

 

[speckledhen]

Just checking in again. Juliette isn't really showing signs of going downhill anymore. I'm not sure if her body handled whatever was going on with her reproductive issues or she's just healthy enough to keep on going longer than some do after the first signs of trouble show themselves. They are in a full molt and the only egg I get is one from Iris every other day or so. Dove came off her broody spell, but her mom, Cricket, is full on broody. None of the splash hens have ever gone broody, though it seems to be in the DNA of the buffs to repeatedly go broody. Iris is blue but her sire is Magnus, we determined or she would not be blue. Two splashes would have made her splash so the buff roosters are the only other choices and Forrest was unable to breed the hens with his hip issue so, Magnus was her sire. And then, she produced Phoebe with one of the splash roosters who got two blue genes, but has buff feathers sprinkled throughout her plumage. Genetics can be sure make puzzles to figure out.
I have never seen Rayna, the blue/brown EE hen, squat for any rooster in her entire 3 1/2 years, not once. She will even chase Forrest around the pen and flog him if he is makes too many overtures to him, LOL. She's a great hen, the least flighty of all the EE hens, wish I'd had an entire flock of carbon copies of Rayna.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I want whatever that non-broody gene is. I'm so sick of breaking all these little chickens. Eggs are getting sporadic here. Still waiting on all those polish to start.

Glad Juliette is hanging in there Cynthia.

 

[speckledhen]

I want that non-broody gene to spread around to others, too, especially since I refuse to reproduce that bunch. I guess it will be spring before I can get the BR hatching eggs, but the moment I can, I will. By then, I may be down a bird or two, considering the age of the current BRs and Brahmas. If I could send you that gene, I would! I know what a royal pain those broodies can be.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I want that non-broody gene to spread around to others, too, especially since I refuse to reproduce that bunch. I guess it will be spring before I can get the BR hatching eggs, but the moment I can, I will. By then, I may be down a bird or two, considering the age of the current BRs and Brahmas. If I could send you that gene, I would! I know what a royal pain those broodies can be.

Especially since I currently have around 50 bantam hens. They do seem to mature out of it after a few seasons. Not sure if I will let any hatch next year or not. I keep getting mostly males. I'm sure by spring I will be bored. That's how I get in trouble.